Carton-feeding machine



Aug. 9', 1 927.

. 1,638,399 S. R. HOWARD CARTON FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 9, 1927. 1,638,399

s. R. HOWARD CARTON FEEDING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 172.4 3

1100612201" 3 ,izalagay iflmazu Patented Aug. 9, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT f OFFICE.

STANLEY R. HOWARD, OF MILTON, MASSAC HUSETTS, ASSIGNOR '10 PNEUMATIC SCALE CORPORATION, LTD., 01? NORFOLK DOWNS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OI MASSACHUSETTS.

CARTON-FEEDING MACHINE. v A

Application filed March 5, 1926. Serial No. 92,384.

This invention relates to carton feeding machines, and involves certain improvements upon and refinements over the" machine shown in my prior Patent No. 1,342,047, to which reference is made as illustrating the general type of machine involved herein.

In my prior patent, the knock-down cartons were successively removed from the carton pack by a vertically reciprocating opener blade which entered between the panels of the endmost carton in the pack and started to open the carton, whereupon an V V oscillating frame moved up against the front panel of the carton and swung the free panels of the carton through an arc of approximately 180 against a revolving feed roll which passed the carton into a carton delivery way and thence outof the machine.

The machine of my prior patent was tion of such machine while retaining the features of advantagev which characterized it over the prior art.

In my present invention, lating frame of my prior patent, together with its operating and adjusting mechanisms, I

and I cause the opener blade to perform the functions which said oscillating frame performed in my prior patent. To. accomplish this result, I use a carton opener of unique construction and operation.

According to my present invention,

such

opener embodies two independently acting;

" 5 revolvingifeed, roll ,of my prior patent, w hich feed-1 roll incon- 1unction with the sweeper fingers "of my prior patent-"acts .to. pass .the

carton through the 8 4 0 fl y Wily, n M out..1of the m OhiDQ, wh e n h win wholly satisfactory, and my present inven tion simply aims to simplify the construc- I omit the oscil Fig. 5.

blade swings the ingtransfer roll and the blades of the compos te carton opener return to their original positions in order to repeat the operation on the next exposed carton in the pack.

The construction and operatlon of m invention, together with a selected em odiment thereof which well illustrates the principles involved, is described and shown in the accompanying specification and drawings, and the characteristic features of novcity are particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Throughout the specification and drawings, like reference characters are correspondingly employed, and in the drawings Fig. 1 is a carton feeding machine of standard type fragmentary side view of a I equipped in accordance with my invention.

Figs. 2 and 3 are front and plan views, respectively, thereof.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary front view showing both members of the composite blade entered vertically from below as a unit into the endmost carton on the conveyor.

Fi 5 illustrates in fragmentary plan a position of rest of the composite blade relative to the endmost carton of the pack,

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6'6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front view showing the composite blade in the position of Fig. 8 is Fig. 7. I p I Fig. 9 is a, fragmentary plan illustrating in full and dotted lines the transferof'the carton from the carton pack to the cartondelivery. way.

Fig. v 10 shows the 'co mposite blade adf a section on the line 8-8 of vanced from the position of Fig.8 to a p'ositionE-in- ,which bothjblade members are about to enter the endmost carton, and 11 is a fragmentary detail viewillustrating the mechanism for imparting' vertical reciprocating movementto the" composite blade. .1" *1" The cartons'C upon whichmy machine operates are of usual construction presenting each a front panel, a back panel and-two connecting side panels, each "of said" panels having at its .ends top and "bottom closure flaps F'adapted to be overfoldjd upon each other to closethe ends of the: package; Preferably, the bottom flap of one of the side panels is shortened, as indicated at F, Figs. 2, 4 and 7.

, These cartons are supported in knockdown condition upon a pair of spaced horizontally disposed rails 1 constituting the carton feed conveyor of the machine, the cartons themselves being positioned vertically on end on said conveyor and constituting a pack which may be moved towards the delivery end of the conveyor, by any suitable feed mechanism, for successive individual removal therefrom by my novel carton opener and-transfer mechanism.

At eitherside of the delivery end of the conveyor, I provide a series of spring clips 2 and 3 against which the opposite corners of the endmost carton of the pack are adapted tobear.

In the removal of the carton from the P pack, these clips successively release their grip on the carton corners, the clips 2 at the left hand coriier of the carton yielding first.

According to my present invention I, the cartons are successively removed from the carton pack by a composite blade embodying a presser blade A and a swinging blade B.

The blade A has reciprocating motion in a vertical path only. The blade B follows the reciprocating motion of the blade A in its upward direction only so that both blades penetrate between the panels of the endmost carton as' a unit. The blade A, however, pauses within the carton while the blade B swings laterally about a vertical axis to transfer the carton from the carton conveyor to the carton delivery way, then descends vertically, and swings/laterally in the reverse direction to rejoin the blade A, which in the meantime has descended, to its original position, whereupon the cycle is repeated to withdraw the next succeeding carton from. the pack.

The cycle is as follows The blades A and B first move vertically upward together as a unit to enter between the shortened bottom side panel and the bottom back panel of the carton. The blade A presses the back panel of the carton rigidly against the pack and the penetration of both blades into-the cartorf has the eflect of partially opening the carton by bulging it to spring its left hand corner. Fig. 6,

away from the pair of clips 2 which are holding it on the conveyor at this edge.

The blade B now starts to swing laterally to the right about a vertical axis as shown in dotted lines Fig. 9, carrying the free panels of the carton through an arc of approximately 180, the blade A meanwhile holding the back panel of the carton flat against the carton pack 50 that the carton swings about said blade as a fulcrum. The carton is therefore first squared andaftercarton is swung laterally by the blade B, the p i slot or slit which exists at the juncture of the bottom front and bottom. side panels of the carton permits the carton to be drawn free of the blade A, which is therefore left in position to clamp against the shortened panel of the next outermost carton in the position of Fig. 4 and thereafter swings laterally to the left again until it rejoins The blade B continues to recede to the the blade A which in the meantime has reached its lowermost position. At this time, both blades are ready to move vertically upward again to her to enter the next cartpn of the pack. 11 fact, the cam which imparts vertical reciprocation to both blades is dwelled to cause the blade A to' wait at the top of its stroke while the blade B makes I its lateral swing and descends and to wait at the bottom of its stroke until the blade B makes its return lateral swing and rejoins it. i

As the carton is swung through the dotted line position of Fig. 9, it is engaged by a swinging presser roll P, operating in timed relation to the blades A and B, and pressed lightly againsta constantly revolving vertically disposed feed roll ion carton is moved in the carton delivery way W of themachine and from which way it is ejected by the swinging ejector fingers E, the feed roll F and ejector fingers E cor responding in function and result to those shown in my said prior patent.

v The presser roll P is a free moving idler roll and has a limited swinging motion towards and" from the stationary revolving knurledfeed roll F When, the blades A and B are entered within the endmost carton of the pack, the presser roll I is in the position shown in full lines in Fig.- 9. In this position, there is sufficient space between it and the stationary feed roll F to permit the adjacent corner of the carton to be swung in between said rolls by the blade B as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 9. After the blade B has commenced to descend from its dotted line position of Fig. 9, and in.

against the revolving feed roll. In the 10; F by which the meantime, however, the ejector fingers E have moved in behind the feed roll F so as to engage the carton when it is delivered to the feed roll and push it along the carton delivery way. After the carton leaves the roll P, this roll returns to its full line position shown in Fig. .9 in readiness to repeat its operation upon the next carton withdrawn from the pack.

The' blades A and B are respectively formed on their opposing faces so that they may snugly fit one upon the other in their penetrating movement into the carton as a unit. For this purpose the blade A may conveniently be grooved from end to end thereof to i receive the blade B.

Sliding rectilinear motion. in a vertical path to cause the blades A and B to simultaneously penetrate the endmost carton in the pack from below is imparted to the blades from the cam shaft 4 of the machine by means of a cam 5 on said shaft. This cam is provided with a closed cam path within which tracks a cam roll 6 (Fig; 11)

' carried by a cam lever 7. The cam lever 7 is forked at one end to straddle the drive shaft and is connected at its opposite end at 8 to the short arm of a bell crank lever 9. g

The bell crank lever 9 is fulcrumed on a stub shaft 10 projecting from the frame of the machine. 7

Pivoted between its ends at 11 to the long arm of the bell crank lever is, a thrust lever, one arm 13 of which is slidingly connected at 14 to the frame of the machine. The other arm 15 of said lever is forked, as shown in Fig. 4, and carries a cross rod 16 to which is clamped a strap 17 carrying the presser blade A. Depending from the presser blade is an arm 18 to which one end of a coiled spring 19 is fastened, the other'end of said spring being hooked about a stud 20 extending from the pivot 11. The purpose of the spring 19is to urge the the presser blade firmly against the rear panel of the endmost carton. v

\The swinging blade B is mounted to move with the presser blade A in its vertical penetrating movement into the carton and thereafter to swing laterally relative to said blade A. To this end, the blade B is mounted in a block 21 which is radially adjustable as at 22 (Fig. 4) on a horizontally disposed rocker arm 23 which is mounted to turn with and to slide longitudinally along a vertical disposed squared rock shaft 24 journaled in suitable bearings 25 extending from the frame of the machine.

The shaft bearing for the arm 23 is squared to fit said squared shaft 24 and turn therewith, and below said squared portion depends as a sleeve 26 loosely fitting said shaft and provided with an inwardly extending lug 27 adapted to overlie said cross rod 16 of the thrust lever 15 when the parts are in the position of Figs. 2 and 4,

an extension 29 of'the rocker arm 23 and the other end of which is anchored to an arm 30 depending from the blade B itself.

\Vhen both blades have reached the limit of their penetrating stroke into the carton, the blade A pauses while the blade B swings laterally to the right in Fig. 2. This is effected by rotating the shaft 24 through a partial revolution, and to effect this in properly timed relation to the operation of the other parts of-the machine, I provide the cam shaft with an open cam 31 (Fig. 3), .which actuates the cam roll 32 of a cam lever 33 which is forked at one end-to stradthe the cam shaft and at its other end is linked at 34 to a rock shaft 35 journaled in a suitable bearing 36 at the base of the ma-. chine. The rock' shaft 35 carries a gear segment 37 which .meshes with a bevelled ear 38 on the lower end of the squared shaft 24, whereby to rock said shaft 24 to the right in Fig. 4, causing the blade B to swing the carton clear of the pack, as shown in dotted lines Fig. 9, towards the vertically disposed revolving feed roll F This roll is rotated from any driving shaft of the machine by means of the gear train indicated generally by the numeral 39 in Figs. 1 and 2, and the withdrawn carton is lightly pressed thereagainst by the swinging pres-e1- roll P which has now swung inwardly against the carton, as shown in Fig. 9. v

The presser roll is operated in properly timed relation by an open cam 40 on the cam shaft of the machine, through a cam roll 41 carried by a'cam lever 42 which is fulcrumed on the stub shaft 10 and is linked at 43 (Fig. 3) to a bell'crank lever 44. which is fulcrumed at 44 on the top of the machine frame. The bell crank lever 44 is adjustably linked at 45 to a rocker arm 46 carried by a rock shaft 47 journaled vertically in suitable brackets 48, and provided with inwardly extending arms 49 within which the prefser roll is vertically journaled, as appears in Fig. 1;

The carton is now lodged in the deliveryway W and is ejected therefromby the ejector fingers E which in the meantime have moved in behind the feed roll F in posi tion to sweep the carton through said runway as it leaves said roll, whereupon the blades A and B and the swinging presser roll P return to their original positions to repeat the operation on the next carton in the pack.

horizontal support Various modifications in the construction and operation of my machine may obviously be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention if within the limits of the appended claims.

What I therefore claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, and means constructed and arranged to enter the endmost carton of the pack and swing the front and side panels thereof into a position of opposite collapse, and a transfer member operating independently of said cart-on entering means and adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton to effect complete withdrawal thereof from the carton pack.

2. In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means for imparting simultaneous reciprocation to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, and independently effective means for imparting independent swinging motion to one of said blades after the completion of said entering motion to cause it to swing the freepanels of the carton about the other blade as a fulcrum and into a position of opposite collapse.

3. In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means for imparting simultaneous reciprocation to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, and means for imparting independent swinging mot1on to one of said blades onl to cause it to swing the free panels of tie carton about th'e other blade as a fulcrum and into a position of opposite collapse, and a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton to effect complete withdrawal thereof from the carton pack.

- 4. In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades adapted to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, one of said blades acting to press the rear panel of said carton against the carton pack while the other blade swings the free panels of said carton about said presser blade as a fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, and a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swlng into engagement with said swinging carton to effect complete wthdrawal thereof from the carton ack. p 5. In a machine of the class described, a for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades adapted to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit from below and partially open the same, one

of said blades acting to press the rear panel of said carton against the carton pack while the other blade swings the front and side panels of the penetrated carton laterally about said presser blade as a vertically disposed fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, and a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swing into engagement With said swinging carton to effect complete withdrawal thereof from the carton pack.

7 6. In annachine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades adapted to vertically enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit andpartially open the same, one of said blades acting to press the rear panel of said carton against the carton pack while the other blade swings the front and side panels of said carton laterally about said presser blade as a fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, a revoluble feed member disposed adjacent the carton support, and a transfer member adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton and press it against said revoluble feed member.

7. In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades mounted for both simultaneous and independent movement relative to each other and to the carton pack, means for imparting sliding rectilinear motion to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton in the pack as a unit and in such relation that one of said blades presses the rear panel of said carton against said pack,

means for imparting swinging motion to the other blade to cause it to swin the panels of said carton about the presserIdade as a fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, both blades subsequently retreating in substantially parallel paths and said swinging blade finally rejoining said presser blade in position to repeat said cycle.

8. In a machine of the class described, a support for a. pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades mounted for both simultaneous and independent movement relative to each other and to the carton pack, means for imparting sliding rectilinear motion in a vertical path to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton in the ack as a unit from below and in such relation that one of said blades presses the rear panel of said carton against said pack, means for im parting lateral swinging motion about a vertical axis to the other blade to cause it to swing the panels of said carton about the presser blade as a fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, said blades subsequently retreating in substantially parallel paths and said swinging blade finally swinging laterally in the reverse direction and rejoining said presser blade beneath the carton pack.

9. In a machine of the class described, a

support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades mounted for both simultaneous and independent movement relative to each other and to the carton pack, means for imparting sliding rectilinear motion to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton in the pack as a unit and in such relation that one of the blades presses the rear panel of said carton against said pack, means for imparting swinging motion to the other blade to cause it to swing the panels of said carton about the presser blade as a fulcrum into a position of opposite collapse, said blades subsequently retreating in substantially parallel paths and said swinging. blade finally swinging rejoining said presser blade in position to repeat said 0 cle, a revoluble carton feed member dispose adjacent the carton support, and a relatively movable member adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton and press it against said revoluble feed member.

10. In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means including a thrust (lever for imparting reciprocating mot-ion to said blade, a rock shaft, a rocker arm mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and capable of sliding movement longitudinally of said shaft and carrying one of said blades, said arm disposed for actuation by said thrust lever when in one position whereby both blades are moved as a unit into the endmost carton of the pack to partially open the same, and means for rocking said rock shaft. to cause the blade carried by it to swing the free panels of said carton into a position of opposite collapse.

11. In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means including a thrust lever for imparting reciprocating motion to said blade, a rock shaft, a rocker arm mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and capable of sliding movement longitudinally of said shaft and carrying one of said blades, said arm disposed for actuation by said thrust lever when in one position whereby both blades are moved as a unit into the endmost carton of the pack to partially open the'same, and means for rocking said rock shaft to cause the blade carried by it to swing the free panels of said carton into a position of opposite collapse, a revoluble feed member disposed adjacent the carton support, and a transfer member adapted to move into engagement with the swinging carton and press it against said revoluble feed member.

12. In a machine of the class described, a cam shaft having cams, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades,

a mount for one of said blades including a thrust lever, means for imparting vertical reciprocating motion to said mount including a bell crank lever operatively connected with said thrust lever and a cam lever operatively connected with said bell crank lever and actuated from one of the cams on said cam shaft, a vertically disposed rock shaft, a rocker arm mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and capable of sliding movement longitudinally of said shaft and carrying the other blade, said arm disposed for actuation by said thrust lever when in one position whereby both blades are moved vertically upward as a unit into the endmost carton of the pack to partially open the same, and means for rocking said rock shaft to cause the blade carried by it'to swing the free panels of .said carton laterally into a position of opposite collapse, said means including a gear on said rock shaft, a gear segment meshing therewith and a cam lever and operative connections from one of the cams on said cam shaft to said gear segment.

13. In a machine of the class described, a

cam shaft having cams, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, a mount for one of said blades including a thrust lever, means for imparting vertical reciprocating motion to said mount including a bell crank lever operatively connected with said thrust lever and a cam lever operatively connected with said bell crank lever and actuated from one of the cams on said cam shaft, a vertically disposed rock shaft, a rocker arm mounted on said shaft to turn therewith and capable of sliding movement longitudinally of said shaft and carrying the other blade, said arm disposed for actuation by said thrust lever when in one position whereby both blades are moved vertically upward as a unit into the endmost carton of the pack to partially open the same, and means for rocking said rock shaft to cause the blade carried by it to swing the free panels of said carton laterally into a position of opposite collapse, said means including a gear on said rock shaft, a gear segment meshing therewith and a cam lever and operative connections from one of the cams on said cam shaft to said gear segment, a revoluble feed member disposed adjacent the carton support, a transfer roll adapted to swing about a vertical axis into engagement with the swinging carton and press it against said revoluble feed member and a vertically disposed rock shaft carrying said transfer roll and operatively connected with one of the cams on said cam shaft.

14; In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, and means constructed and arranged to enter the endmost carton; of the pack and swing the front and side panels thereof, and a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton to effect I ton pack.

complete withdrawal thereof from the'carto said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, and means for imparting independently swinging motion to one of said blades only to cause it to swing the free panels of the carton about the other bladeas a fulcrum.

16. In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed: cartons, a pair of blades, means for imparting simultaneous reciprocation to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, and means for imparting independent swinging motion to one of said blades only to cause it to swing the free panels of the carton about the other blade as a fulcrum, and a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton to effect complete withdrawal thereof from the carton pack.

17 In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades adapted to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unitand partially open the same, one of said blades acting to press the rear panel of said carton against the carton pack while the other blade swings the free panels of said carton about said presser blade as a fulcrum, and

tive a transfer member operating independently of said carton entering means and adapted to swing into engagement with said swinging carton to effect complete withdrawal thereof from the carton pack.

18. In combination, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means for imparting simultaneous reciprocation to said blades to cause them to enter the endmost carton of the pack as a unit and partially open the same, independently effecmeans for imparting independent swinging motion to one of said blades after the completion of said entering motion to cause said blade to swing the free panels of the carton about the other blade as a fulcrum, a revoluble feed member disposed adjacent the carton support, and a transfer member operating independently of said blades and efiective to swing into engagement with said swinging carton and press it against said revoluble feed member.

19. In a machine of the class described, a support for a pack of collapsed cartons, a pair of blades, means for entering said blades as a unit into the endmost carton of the pack, independently effective means for swinging one blade relative to the other after the completion of said entering motion, both blades subsequently retreatin in substantially parallel paths and sai swinging blade finally rejoining the other blade in position to repeat said cycle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

STANLEY R. HOWARD. 

